VOICES: BRENT SEVERYN
Ex-Islanders enforcer on old teammate Scott Gordon
When Brent Severyn thinks of his old Nordiques and Halifax (AHL) teammate Scott Gordon, he recalls the divine fragrance of the goalie’s pasta Bolognese. “I don’t know who taught Scottie how to cook,” says Severyn, “but it was a treat to have someone on your team who could whip up sauce like that.” (Gordon responds: “Don’t tell Sevy this, but it was out of a jar.”
The former Islanders defenseman also fondly recalls Gordon’s hunger to be on the ice. “When you are a sluggo like me,” says the ex-enforcer, “you’re always one of the first guys on the ice at practice. It’s usually you and a couple of other grinders shooting pucks into empty nets for ten minutes. Not with Flash around. He was the only goalie I ever had as a teammate who was first on the ice…and I mean every day.”
Today the color commentator on Anaheim Ducks radio broadcasts, Severyn was teammates with Gordon in the Quebec farm system from 1989 – 1991, primarily as members of the Halifax Citadels. In a phone conversation this morning, Severyn talked Gordon.
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“I was so happy for Scott when he got the Islanders job. I’ve met a lot of people in our game that made an impact on me, and Scott’s one of them. He cares deeply about people. He’s not going to be one of those caustic NHL coaches who might be effective for a while but rubs everyone the wrong way. Scott will quickly learn how to manage the personalities at the NHL level because he has an innate understanding of people.
He’s one of the hardest workers I ever had for a teammate. He pushed himself real hard to get the most out of his ability. I played with Patrick Roy and Eddie Belfour, two of the most fiery and competitive goaltenders in the history of the NHL. Scott had the same level of intensity as a player.
“He wasn’t kooky, like a lot of goalies. He was a great teammate and he had the respect of all of us because he was always looking for ways to be a better goalie and make us a better team. He also studied the position more than any goalie I ever played with. This is almost 20 years ago, before goalie instruction became so scientific. Flash would find any edge he could.
“Did I think he’d be a coach? Actually, no. He was so impressive, I figured he’d become a big businessman, a real estate mogul. But I guess he never stopped loving the game. The great thing about Flash is that nothing has ever been handed to him. He earned every start he got in the AHL and NHL, and he earned this opportunity with the Islanders. It will not always be an easy road, but I know the Islanders got a real good man to lead them.”
Out of a jar? That is sac-religious for all Italians!